The Qualicum Beach Artisans Market is about to start it’s summer season.
On Friday starting at 3 p.m. there will be an exciting array of art and music in the heart of Qualicum Beach.
The juried market means quality work for those coming out to see what is new and with everything from stone to pottery, glass, painting, photography, metalwork, blacksmithing and more there is a wide range of artistic talent to view. The market, now in it’s fourth year, will be going for 10 weeks starting June 29.
Running until August 31, the market will feature plenty of high quality crafts and handmade art because this year it has doubled its space. Dee Aguilar said each vendor had to go through a jurying process and the selection of work was based on quality, originality and marketability.
Even the kids will have the opportunity to get involved this year, with an area set up for them to participate in an art project each week between 3:30 and 5:30 p.m. Youth will also have an area dedicated to showcasing their art.
The location is right beside The Old School House on Fern Roadfrom 3 to 8 p.m. each Friday and includes great entertainment.
Kerri Brown of Qualicum Beach is the featured musician for the first market. She plays with the band Skewlines and will be bringing along her bandmates and some other special guest. A music teacher in Parksville, Brown found her way to Qualicum Beach after living and performing in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Montreal, Ireland and the United Kingdom.
The accomplished musician who plays guitar, fiddle and mandolin has an eclectic musical background and has played with award winning Canadian fiddle players from Cape Breton to B.C.
She said five hours is a long gig so she is hoping some of her friends from Phil Harmonic’s Jug Band Orchestra will drop by and perform with her on Friday night.
The list of artists and musicians will change weekly, but some of the artists who will be on hand this Friday include stone carver Del Mark; glass blower Ted Jolda; potters Larry and Dee Aguilar; photographer Alan Cornell and glass bead maker Wendy Maurer.
“The Old School House is also open Friday night until 8 p.m. so it’s a good fit. Arts and culture in the community play a big role in our market and the Town of Qualicum Beach is creating more of a focus on it and even the business community is embracing that segment as an economic driver,” Maurer said. Visit artisansinqualicumbeach.shawwebspace.ca for more.
